Some Trivia about Lisbon

Miradouro de Santa Caterina
(By Andrea Puggioni [CC BY 2.0], via flickr)

Nothing makes a trip to a new location more fun than searching out trivia to learn about your new location and then exploring the region when you arrive to learn more. In that vein, here are ten interesting facts about Lisbon’s past and present. Click the + signs to reveal the information!

[spoiler title="Lisbon is older than Rome. " open="yes" style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]

[spoiler title="Lisbon was almost destroyed on Nov. 1, 1755..." style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]when an 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck. (Strong enough that it was felt in Scotland!) The quake killed more than 40,000 people and almost destroyed the city of Lisbon. According to Scientific American, the tremors began about 9:30 a.m., and the first building collapsed by 9:40 a.m. As if that wasn’t enough, a 12 meter tsunami washed over the city at 10:10 a.m., and by the end of the day, 75 percent of the city was in ruins.[/spoiler]

[spoiler title="Pack your sunscreen and swimsuits because..." style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]Lisbon sees approximately 260 days of sunny weather every year, and is one of the only European capital be have beaches in close proximity.[/spoiler]

[spoiler title="The oldest district in Lisbon is..." open="yes" style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]

[spoiler title="The longest bridge in Lisbon is..." style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]the Vasco da Gama Bridge. This 17 km (11 mile) long bridge took 18 months to construct. It is as long as the road-rail tunnel-bridge that links Denmark and Sweden. Cost for construction was $1 million in U.S. dollars.[/spoiler]

[spoiler title="Hidden gallery beneath Lisbon's Streets" style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]A Roman underworld lies beneath Lisbon’s streets – the access is at the top of Rua de Coneaio. There are corridors, bridges, rooms and galleries hidden under the shopping district of Lisbon.[/spoiler]

[spoiler title="The church that holds a record for Longest Construction Time in the World for a Church is..." open="yes"  style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]

[spoiler title="Locals are called..." style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]“Afacinhas” which means “little lettuce.” This association began in the 19th century when residents would meet for lunch at vegetable gardens outside the city and enjoy large salads together.[/spoiler]

[spoiler title="Lisbon and the Seven Hills" style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]Lisbon is built on seven hills. Those are the Castelo, Graca, Monte, Penha de Franca, S. Pedro de Alcantara, Santa Catarina and Estrela.[/spoiler]

[spoiler title="What do vinegar-makers, wine-makers, and Lisbon have in common? " style="fancy" icon="plus-square-1"]

Do these trivia about Lisbon make it more interesting? We sure hope so! In a city as old as Lisbon, there is bound to be plenty of history and wonders for travelers to discover and share. Whether you want to explore Jewish Heritage in Portugal, have specific sites to see in Lisbon, or just want to get lost in a new culture, Gil Travel can help you plan your getaway. Contact Gil Travel today to get your perfect trip started.